- Author: Maureen Clark
Not I. Who can have the blues when this plant is obtainable?
This beautiful plant Baptisia australis has been around a long time. The blue flowers were used as a blue dye by the American Indians and the early settlers. Stems when broken, secrete a sap that turns dark blue with contact from the air. The genus name Baptisia comes the Greek word “bapto” meaning “to dye”. From the Fabaceae family, there are more than 20 species within the genus. Even though "indigo" is in the common name, the blooms of native species may be blue, yellow or white and the blooms of newer hybrids may include lavenders and bi-colors. The leaves emerge about one month before flowering and are shed approximately one month after the pods form. The young shoots look like asparagus, which could cause poisoning. Once the seeds are fully mature, the stems turn a silverish grey and break off from the roots. The pods stay attached and are blown with the stems to another location.
Botanical name: Baptisia australis
Common names: Wild Indigo, Blue False Indigo
Origin: Native to Central and Northeast America, the American prairies
USDA zones: 3 - 9
Water requirements: Medium to dry
Soil requirements: clay – sand, lime free, well drained
Light requirements: Full to partial sun
Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide
Benefits and tolerances: Easy to grow, long living, herbaceous perennial, very drought tolerant, fall interest, attracts beneficial native bees, butterflies, good for dried & cut flower arrangements, deer, rabbit and fire resistant.
Flower: Resembles Lupine, Spikes of pea shaped flowers that bloom in spring
Foliage: Grey-green trifoliate leaves are arranged alternately, and are further divided into clover-like leaflets that are obovate in shape, or wider towards the apex. the emerging spikes look like asparagus
Seasonal interest: Two - three week bloom period mid to late May, followed by ornamental seed pods that make a gentle rattling sound.
When to plant: Spring and Fall
How to use it. Use Baptisia for height and as a filler in the back or middle of a dry border, in mass, and groups of three or as single accents.
Planting notes. Wherever you decide to plant Baptisia, make sure that it is the definitive place where you want it. Baptisia takes a few years to bloom, and it has a deep taproot (making it very drought tolerant), so it responds poorly to being moved.
Baptisia australis'Lemon Meringue' is bright yellow colored cultivar.
Baptisia australis var minor, which is a shorter variety that grows to about 2 feet tall and wide, and blooms purple like the species.
Note: This picture shows the mulch all the way up to the crown of the plant. It's choking it! Pull the mulch 2- 3" away from the stems.
Baptisia hybrid 'Solar Flare' part of the Prairieblues series. This grows to 3-5 feet with yellow and rusty colored flowers.
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